State Board of EducationNew Member Orientation
August 20, 2013
SCHOOL SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY SCHOOL SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY AND CHARTER SCHOOLS IN GEORGIAAND CHARTER SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA
Overview and ComparisonOverview and Comparison
2
What is the Origin of Charter Schools?
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Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Innovation C
hoice
Competition
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 704/21/23
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 804/21/23
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 904/21/23
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Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Charter system law also passed, followed by
first 4 charter systems in
2008-09
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
For locally-approved and system charter schools
State Charter Schools
Commission
For state charter schools
13Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
14Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
What Kinds of Charter Schools Does Georgia Have?
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Different starting points, but same end point
Same starting point as a conversion charter, but a
different end point
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17Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
18Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
19Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
20Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
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Georgia Charter Schools Growth
We have begun to address the low numbers of high quality charter school
applications
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04/21/23 24Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
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04/21/23 26Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
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1519
22
39 39
61
75
21
4
35
27
0
1519 19
3026
18
40
15
27 8
00
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
History of Charter School Applications and Approvals
Note: The 2010 number of applications and approvals is significantly higher because of Commission school transitions
Total Applications Commission Apps Total Approvals Commission Approvals
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• Not yet a critical mass of high-quality charter schools
• Concentrated in Metro Atlanta• We had 315 charter schools in
Georgia in 2012-13 – including 77 start-up charter schools, 31 conversion charter schools, and 207 charter system schools in 16 charter systems
• The 15 state-chartered special schools have changed authorizers from the SBOE to the new State Charter Schools Commission
• Not yet a critical mass of high-quality charter schools
• Concentrated in Metro Atlanta• We had 315 charter schools in
Georgia in 2012-13 – including 77 start-up charter schools, 31 conversion charter schools, and 207 charter system schools in 16 charter systems
• The 15 state-chartered special schools have changed authorizers from the SBOE to the new State Charter Schools Commission
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Georgia’s Charter Landscape
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Number of Charter System Schools by District
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04/21/23 35Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
04/21/23 36Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Georgia Landscape 2011-2012
National Landscape2011-2012
Georgia Charter Schools Academic Performance
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5-Year % Passing: CRCT Reading PerformanceCharter vs. Non-Charter
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% Passing: CRCT Reading PerformanceBy Charter Type
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5-Year % Passing: CRCT Math PerformanceCharter vs. Non-Charter
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% Passing: CRCT Math PerformanceBy Charter Type
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40.0%42.5%45.0%47.5%50.0%52.5%55.0%57.5%60.0%62.5%65.0%67.5%70.0%72.5%75.0%77.5%80.0%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
5-Year EOCT Math Performance TrendCharter vs. Non-Charter
Charter Non-Charter
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40.0%42.5%45.0%47.5%50.0%52.5%55.0%57.5%60.0%62.5%65.0%67.5%70.0%72.5%75.0%77.5%80.0%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
5-Year EOCT Math Performance Trendby Charter Type
Start-up Conversion System Non-Charter
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Georgia’s High Quality Charter School Requirements
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* High Quality Charter School
• Petitioners are asked:– What would having a
charter allow you to do differently to increase student achievement that you could not do without a charter?
– Why do you need a charter to implement the innovations you have proposed?
56Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Must show the following links:
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Governing Board Autonomy
59Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Indicators of Autonomy• Must make personnel decisions (People)• Must make decisions about what happens in the school (Time)• Must set school budget spending priorities (Money)• Can contract for services provided by the district• Must recruit/select governing board members without district or EMO/CMO assistance• Must have independent audit firm and attorney
Indicators of Autonomy• Must make personnel decisions (People)• Must make decisions about what happens in the school (Time)• Must set school budget spending priorities (Money)• Can contract for services provided by the district• Must recruit/select governing board members without district or EMO/CMO assistance• Must have independent audit firm and attorney
The school should be as close to this
end as possible
The school should be as close to this
end as possible
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* Fourth Generation
School District Flexibility and Accountability in Georgia
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• By June 30, 2015*June 30, 2015* each local school system must choose to operate as one of the following: – Investing in Educational Excellence School System (IE2)– Charter System– Status Quo School System• Other options include:– System of Charter Clusters– System of Charter Schools– Strategic School System
*Per OCGA §20-2-84.3
63
64
65
66
67
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Decision Considerations
*College & Career Readiness Performance Index 69
70
Centralized or Decentralized Decentralized
Yes
No Waivers
Decision Structure Considerations
71
IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
StatusQuo
>School System seeks waivers – must include at least one of the following: class size; expenditure control; certification; salary schedule
>Schools must state how broad flexibility per-mitted by the Charter Schools Act will be utilized to improve student achievement>School must provide exam-ples of how they will utilize the broad relief from Title 20 permit-ted by the Chart-er Schools Act.
>School System must state how bundled Title 20 waiver requests for flexibility permitted by state statute and State Board rule will be utilized.>School System cannot include the following: class size; expenditure control; certification; salary schedule.
>School System must provide examples of how broad flexibility permitted by the Charter Schools Act will be utilized to improve student achievement
>Waivers granted only in the case of a natural disaster>Statewide waivers expire June 30, 2015
Flexibility and Title 20
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
Status Quo
Cannot waive: >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct
Schools cannot waive: >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct
Cannot waive: >Big 4>Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct
Cannot waive: >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct
No waivers permitted except if natural disaster, but cannot waive:>Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct
Waiver Limitations
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
StatusQuo
>Flexibility proportionate to student performance goals>School System Strategic Plan is required>School System must conduct a public hearing to share Strategic Plan>Approved by the Local School Board at a public meeting.
>Emphasis on parent/ community involvement, including maximum school level governance>Approved by the Local School Board at a public meeting
>Flexibility is proportionate to increase in student performance goals >School System Strategic Plan is required>School System must conduct a public hearing to share Strategic Plan >Approved by the Local School Board
>Emphasis on parent/ community involvement, including maximum school level governance>Approved by the Local School Board at a public meeting
>School System must conduct a public hearing to provide notice of the system’s intent to select Status Quo>Local board of education must sign statement that the school system has selected Status Quo
Unique Features
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
Status Quo
>Possible savings through flexibility>Regular QBE funding with more local school system expenditure controls
>Possible savings through flexibility>Regular QBE funding with local expenditure controls>Federal charter school imple-mentation grants possible for each school
>Possible savings through flexibility>Regular QBE funding
>Possible savings through flexibility>Regular QBE funding with more local school system expenditure controls>Possible $100 (pre-austerity cut) per student
>No savings through flexibility
Fiscal Impact
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
StatusQuo
>School System may maximize school-level governance by granting local schools authority to determine how to reach goals
>School System must grant each school substan-tial autonomy and maximize school-level governance and decision making over budgets, programs, personnel, and innovation
>School System may maximize school level governance by granting local schools authority to determine how to reach goals, manage personnel, and develop innovative strategies
>School System must provide each school with substantial autonomy and maximum school-level governance and decision making over budgets, programs, personnel and/or innovation
>No change in school-level governance
Governance
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• Beyond the 4 responsibilities of a school board, everything else is the Superintendent’s responsibility
• Therefore, it is the Superintendent’s authority that is shared with schools in a charter system or a system of charter schools
• The authority of a local Board of Education is not diminished unless it has inappropriately taken the Superintendent’s authority
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Charter System School Governing Team
Autonomy
79
Indicators of Autonomy• Must make personnel decisions (People)• Must make decisions about what happens in the school (Time)• Must set school budget spending priorities (Money)• Must recruit/select governing board members without district assistance (except for initial group)• Can contract for services provided by the district
Indicators of Autonomy• Must make personnel decisions (People)• Must make decisions about what happens in the school (Time)• Must set school budget spending priorities (Money)• Must recruit/select governing board members without district assistance (except for initial group)• Can contract for services provided by the district
The school should be as close to this
end as possible
The school should be as close to this
end as possible
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
StatusQuo
>Student performance goals must meet or exceed state averages and exceed previous system performance >Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures
>Student performance goals must meet or exceed state averages and exceed previous system performance >Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures
>Student performance goals must exceed previous system performance and must show annual improvement>Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures
>Student performance goals must meet or exceed state averages and exceed previous system performance >Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures
>Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures
Performance Evaluation
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
StatusQuo
>Loss of governance of non-performing schools: (1) conversion to charter school; (2) operation by another school system; or (3) operation by private or non-profit entity
>Charter status revoked for non-performing schools/clusters; those schools/clusters lose all flexibility >Possible fiscal impact due to loss of flexibility
>Flexibility status revoked and school system reverts to Status Quo>Possible fiscal impact when converting from Strategic School System to Status Quo due to loss of flexibility
>Charter status revoked and school system reverts to Status Quo >Possible fiscal impact when converting from Charter System to Status Quo due to loss of flexibility
N/A
Consequences
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
Status Quo
>Local School System Board of Education and State Board of Education*
>Charter School Governing Board, Local School System Board of Education, and State Board of Education
>Local School System Board of Education and State Board of Education
>Local School System Board of Education and State Board of Education
N/A
Contractual Partners
*Required by statute that the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement participate in the IE2 process.
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
Status Quo
>Initial term of contract is for 5 years>Contract may be renewed if contract performance goals are met for at least three consecutive years
>Initial term of individual school contract is for 5 years>Contract status is reviewed annually, based on student performance>Subsequent contract term may range from 5 to 10 years if the charter contract goals are met
>Single contract term of 2 to 5 years>Contract status is reviewed annually, based on student performance>Follow-up contract must be IE2, Charter System, System of Charter Schools or Charter Clusters, or Status Quo
>Initial term of contract is for 5 years>Contract status is reviewed annually, based on student performance>Subsequent contract term may range from 5 to 10 years if the charter contract goals are met
N/A
Length of Contract
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
Status Quo
>Approved by local board>Petition sent to GaDOE>Petition vetted by GaDOE staff>Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet>Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE)>Contract signed by all parties>Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 8 to 24 months
>Approved by local board>Petition sent to GaDOE>Petition vetted by GaDOE staff >Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet>Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE)>Contract signed by all parties>Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 3 to 6 months
>Approved by local board>Petition sent to GaDOE>Petition vetted by GaDOE staff >Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet>Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE)>Contract signed by all parties>Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 3 to 6 months
>Approved by local board>Petition sent to GaDOE>Petition vetted by GaDOE staff >Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet>Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE)>Contract signed by all parties>Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 3 to 6 months
N/A
Petition Process
87
IE2
System System of
Charter Schools and Charter
Clusters
Strategic School System
CharterSystem
StatusQuo
O.C.G.A. §20-2-80 §20-2-81§20-2-82§20-2-83§20-2-84.1§20-2-84.2§20-2-84.3
O.C.G.A. §20-2-2062§20-2-2063.1§20-2-2063.2§20-2-2064.1§20-2-2065§20-2-2066§20-2-2067§20-2-2067.1§20-2-2068§20-2-2068.1§20-2-2068.2§20-2-2069§20-2-2070§20-2-2071
O.C.G.A. §20-2-2063.2
O.C.G.A. §20-2-2063.2
O.C.G.A. §20-2-80
Legal References
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Category 1: Strategic School System
Category 2: High Performing System
Category 3: Charter System
>Description: Receive Title 20 flexibility via waiver request process>Eligibility: Any system not categorized as 2 or 3. In general, this will mean system scoring less than an 80 on the CCRPI.>Incentive: Flexibility: Specific Title 20 regulations (including “Big 4” at the discretion of the SBOE) can be waived at the request of the system by the SBOE based on completion of strategic plan and monitoring by DOE. Plan must clearly indicate how the flexibility will affect student achievement. Higher bar on student achievement for Big 4 waivers.>Accountability: Term of waivers is 3 years, can only be revoked if system materially breaches its plan. -- or system can be promoted to Category 2 and get the broad flexibility waiver or go through the process to become Category 3.
>Description: Receive Title 20 flexibility without waiver process
>Eligibility: Granted automatically without process or performance contract if district meets (a1) and (a2), or (b):
(a1) System CCRPI grade of >= 80
AND
(a2) 90% of schools >= 80 (or all but 1 for systems with 10 or fewer schools) OR(b) Exceptional CCRPI growth (definition TBD)
>Incentive: Broad flexibility.
>Accountability: Maintain High Performance criteria; Term of broad flexibility is 3 years
>Description: Receive Title 20 flexibility through charter system application process.
>Eligibility: Any system is always eligible to apply but must go through the current application process; local school governance assurance
>Incentive: Broad flexibility
>Accountability: Student performance and local school governance
HB 327: Georgia’s Statewide Tiered Accountability and Flexibility System (G-STAFS)
Charter School Authorizing in Georgia
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90Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
What is an Authorizer?
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What Are An Authorizer’s Responsibilities?
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An authorizer is an entity that has the authority to create charter schools
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
How Does the SBOE/GaDOE Fulfill their Obligations as an Authorizer?
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How Does The Commission Fulfill Its Obligations as an Authorizer?
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Charter School Approval Process
95Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Start-up petition
Conversion petition
LBOE GaDOE SBOE
ApprovalReview and make recommendation
to SBOEApproval
New locally-approved start-
up charter school
Approval Approval
Review and make recommendation
to SBOE
New conversion
charter school
Y Y
Y
N
N
End
EndEnd
Y
N
04/21/23
N
(See next page for state charter school option)
Commission School Approval Process
96Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Start-up petition for
defined attendance
zone
Commission petition for
defined attendance
zone
LBOE where school will be located
Commission SBOE
Overrule
New Commission
school
N
N
YEnd
04/21/23
ApprovalY
EndN
Commission petition for statewide
attendance zone
Petition to district in which
school will be located for
information only (not required for virtual schools)
(See previous page)
YApproval
Charter System Approval Process
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Charter system petition
LBOE GaDOE SBOE
Approval Approval
Review and make
recommendation to SBOE
New charter system
Y
NEndEnd
Y
N
Charter Advisory Committee review and
recommendation to SBOE
What is the SBOE/GaDOE Charter Petition Review Process?
98Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
What Steps does GaDOE Take to Ensure Only High-Quality Charter Schools are Recommended for
Approval?
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What Should New and Renewal Charter School Applicants Do to Ensure They Are
High-Quality Applicants?
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What Steps Should Renewal Applicants Take to Ensure They Are High-Quality
Charter Schools?
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When Does GaDOE Recommend An Existing Charter School for Denial?
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When Should an Authorizer Close a Charter School?
*These guidelines are based on NACSA’s Red Flags for identifying “bad” schools.04/21/23 103
Why Should Authorizers Close Schools?
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Accountability Project
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Charter School Grant Opportunities
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107Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Where is Georgia chartering headed?
What’s Best for Charter School Students?
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For More Informationhttp://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Charter-Schools/
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Garry McGiboney, Ph.D.Associate Superintendent
Howard Hendley, Ed.D.Director, Policy Division
Louis ErsteDirector, Charter Schools Division
Allan MeyerAssistant Director
Policy [email protected]
404-657-1065
Morgan FeltsProgram Manager and
Senior AttorneyCharter Schools [email protected]
404-656-0027